Week Ahead

In the US, housing data will take center stage with existing home sales, building permits and housing starts likely showing the impact from recent hurricanes. In China, the focus will be on China's National Party Congress and GDP growth, inflation, industrial production and retail trade figures. Investors will also be waiting for: UK retail sales, inflation, unemployment and wages; Eurozone inflation and trade balance; Australia employment data and results of general election in Japan.

In the US, the most important releases are existing home sales, building permits and housing starts, industrial production, import and export prices, NY Empire State Manufacturing Index, NAHB Housing Market Index, Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index and overall net capital flows.

In the UK, investors will be closely watching retail sales, inflation, unemployment and wages for signs on the future path of monetary policy from the Bank of England. Elsewhere in Europe, important releases include Eurozone inflation, trade balance and construction output; and Germany ZEW economic sentiment index.

In China, the focus will be the 19th national congress of the Communist Party and the release of GDP growth for the third quarter of the year. Other key data include consumer and producer prices, industrial production, retail trade and fixed asset investment. Meanwhile in Japan, the general election will take place at the end of the week, and important data to be released include foreign trade and industrial production. In Australia, RBA meeting minutes and employment data will be in the spotlight.

Other important releases include: Canada retail trade and inflation; South Korea and Indonesia interest rate decisions; and India wholesale prices.